Cradle Mountain project waits for federal funding

The wait for federal government funding for the Cradle Mountain project will continue, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull not mentioning the matter in his overnight visit to the state.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said the industry was tiring of talk about the state’s beauty, but a lack of investment.

“The Cradle Mountain Master Plan is one of the most important infrastructure projects in regional Tasmania, with economic modelling by Deloitte indicating it will generate at least another 40,000 more visitors to Northern Tasmania each year,” he said.

“Importantly, it’s critical to ensuring Northern Tasmania keeps its fair share of the visitor growth to Tasmania, with a truly world-class attraction in the heart of the region to compliment the icons of the south.”

Mr Martin said the industry was expecting the federal government to make a commitment to the project before the last federal election.

He said it was; “frankly left gutted by a tokenistic $1 million commitment towards further planning work”.

“We’ve since been hopeful with each passing Prime Ministerial visit to Tasmania that a more fair dinkum commitment will be forthcoming, but alas, we’re still waiting,” he added.